Meet Samir Knutsen – a trained deck officer who chose to work as a fisherman on his own small fishing boat, Polarlys. When we meet Samir, he lives and works aboard his boat in Lofoten, surrounded by the stunning and distinctive landscape shaped by open seas and steep mountains.
Although he is educated as a shipowner and has previously worked at sea, there was never any doubt about which path he wanted to take. At just 18 years old, Samir bought his own fishing boat.
Today, he fishes alone, on his own terms, with a clear twinkle in his eye and a ready sense of humor. He has rebuilt the boat so he can handle large nets and heavy catches by himself – a project that says a lot about who he is: solution-oriented, fearless, and determined to do things his own way.
Samir moved to Lofoten without knowing many people, but he quickly found his place. The local community welcomed him with open arms, and it is clear that he has found both his place and his friends in the small island community in the north.
For Samir, being a fisherman is about freedom. The freedom to go where he wants. To follow the weather, the fish, and his instincts. No one tells him what to do – and he carries full responsibility himself, both when things go well and when they don’t. He says he wants to live as a fisherman for as long as he can, as long as his body holds up and the joy remains.
Samir is part of a long Norwegian fishing tradition. He also represents an important contrast in our time – in a world where mass production, large emissions, and an increasing focus on profit have taken over, Samir chooses sustainable small-scale operations that keep local communities alive and give him freedom and joy in life.
Samir is wearing the Vega Readymade sweater – a sturdy sweater built to withstand weather and wind.
Samir Knutsen is one of those who remind us what Norway also is:
freedom, sea, tradition – and people who choose their own path.
This is Samir.
And this is Our Little Norway.
OUR LITTLE NORWAY
Read more about the amazing people in our project and why they inspire us 🤍
Ingeborg Riseng
An artisan with a unique eye for movement, form and materials with her own atelier at Vækerøstuene in Oslo, Norway.
Caroline Sagafos
A former lawyer who chose to follow her heart and become a ceramicist with her own workshop at Bekkelund Gård in Vollen, Norway.
Fredrikke Jerring
A versatile free spirit driven by her mission on inspiring others to enjoy nature and life more, currently running Lofoten Apartments with her partner in Lofoten, Norway.